Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
Technical support engineer education requirements
Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read
There are several educational requirements to become a technical support engineer. Technical support engineers usually study electrical engineering, computer science, or business. 63% of technical support engineers hold a bachelor's degree, and 21% hold an associate degree. We analyzed 15,312 real technical support engineer resumes to see exactly what technical support engineer education sections show.
The most common colleges for technical support engineers are the DeVry University and the DeVry University.
There are also many online technical support engineer courses to help get the education required to be a technical support engineer.
There are certain technical support engineer certifications that you should consider. These technical support engineer certifications include Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) and Master Certified Electronics Technician (CETma).
What education do you need to become a technical support engineer?
What degree do you need to be a technical support engineer?
- Bachelor's, 63%
- Associate, 21%
- Master's, 9%
- Diploma, 3%
- Other Degrees, 4%
What should I major in to become a technical support engineer?
- Computer Science, 17%
- Business, 10%
- Other Majors, 46%
Most common colleges for technical support engineers
| Technical support engineer common college | Percentages |
|---|---|
| DeVry University | 15.40% |
| University of Phoenix | 13.75% |
| San Jose State University | 8.74% |
| Northeastern University | 7.01% |
| University of Massachusetts Boston | 5.45% |
Best majors for technical support engineers
| Rank | Major | Percentages |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Electrical Engineering | 19.1% |
| 2 | Computer Science | 17.3% |
| 3 | Business | 10.1% |
| 4 | Computer Information Systems | 8.2% |
| 5 | Information Technology | 7.9% |
Best colleges for technical support engineers
The best colleges for technical support engineers are Stanford University, Northwestern University, and University of Pennsylvania.
A technical support engineer with advanced education typically earns a higher salary and has access to better jobs. That's why Zippia looked into the best colleges for technical support engineers. We based this list on several metrics: admissions rate, retention rate, mean earnings of graduates, the ratio of working vs. non-working students ten years after admission, the average cost of attendance, and median debt for graduates who become technical support engineers.
1. Stanford University
Stanford, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$51,354
Enrollment
7,083
2. University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA • Private
In-state tuition
$55,584
Enrollment
10,764
3. Northwestern University
Evanston, IL • Private
In-state tuition
$54,568
Enrollment
8,451
4. Western Carolina University
Cullowhee, NC • Private
In-state tuition
$3,926
Enrollment
9,835
5. Pennsylvania State University
University Park, PA • Private
In-state tuition
$18,454
Enrollment
40,108
6. University of Southern California
Los Angeles, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$56,225
Enrollment
19,548
7. California State University - Bakersfield
Bakersfield, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$7,309
Enrollment
9,142
8. California State University - Long Beach
Long Beach, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$6,798
Enrollment
31,503
9. Harvard University
Cambridge, MA • Private
In-state tuition
$50,420
Enrollment
7,582
10. Duke University
Durham, NC • Private
In-state tuition
$55,695
Enrollment
6,596
20 best online courses for technical support engineers
Advertising disclosure
1. Introduction to Technical Support
Technical Support professionals are in great demand! This is the first course in the IBM IT Support Professional Certificate program, designed to prepare you for a rewarding career in technical support. You will begin this self-paced course by learning what Informational Technology (IT) support is all about. You'll find out the roles and responsibilities of Technical Support professionals and become familiar with all the different career paths you can take in Technical Support. You will also...
2. IBM IT Support
Prepare for an in-demand career in Information Technology (IT). In this program, you’ll develop a strong foundation in IT fundamentals, networking, cybersecurity, and cloud computing to get job-ready in as little as 3 months, with no prior experience or degree needed to get started.\n\nAlmost every organization, business, or individual relies on technology. A career in IT Support is about providing technological assistance to better optimize organizational efficiency. This can include...
3. IT Support Technical Skills Bootcamp
Hands-on Technical skills for IT Support Professionals...
4. IT Support Technical Skills Helpdesk
Hands-on Technical skills for IT Support Learners...
5. Akamai Customer Consulting and Support
Are you interested in end-to-end project management? Want to deliver the best solutions to our customers while collaborating with teams from all over the world? You will never stop learning in this fast-moving environment and across our cutting-edge technologies. This beginner level certificate is designed to provide you with in-demand skills that range from internet technology fundamentals, networking, operating systems and problem solving techniques.\n\nThis certificate program consists of...
6. Network Support Fundamentals
Dive into the realm of network support with the Network Support Fundamentals course. This online course is meticulously designed to introduce you to the essential skills needed for supporting enterprise networks - one of the most in-demand skill sets in the digital landscape. By the end of this course you will be able to explain network security basics, monitor network performance, and provide essential professional support. Ideal for beginners aiming for an entry-level IT career or current IT...
7. Desktop IT Support Level 1 & 2 in real life (Troubleshooting
Learn everything in real life Troubleshooting for IT Help Desk , Helpdesk , IT Support , System Administration and IT...
8. Computer Hardware, Operating System and Networking
For Any Graduates/Engineering/Diploma/Arts & Science/Freshers/Home Users/Individuals/Desktop Support/FM/Service Engineer...
9. IT & Technical Support Guide to Helpdesk, Desktop & Servers
Learn how the different levels of IT technical support work, from service desk to infrastructure and server support...
10. Basic Computer Course - Windows 7/10 - IT & Desktop Support
Basic computer course with troubleshooting skills -computer hardware and computer networking, for IT support technicians...
11. Computer Network Fundamentals- IT Helpdesk & Desktop Support
Learn the basic fundamentals of computer networking & OSI model for desktop support and IT service desk technicians...
12. IT/Desktop Computer Support- Troubleshooting for Technicians
Learn how to troubleshoot desktop computer issues as an IT Support Technician on real-world organisational networks...
13. Windows Server 2019: Active Directory, GPO, R. Server Access
Training For Beginners - Become a Network Administrator in Microsoft Windows Server 2019 with Remote Server Access!...
14. Customer Service & Support For Customer Service Executives
Learn Customer Service Skills & Provide Excellent Customer Support, Customer Experience & How To Manage Upset Customers...
15. Customer Service, Customer Support, And Customer Experience
Customer service, customer support, and customer experience training. Loyal clients through world-class customer service...
16. Advanced IT Troubleshooting for Helpdesk Support Technicians
Learn some of the less common IT troubleshooting techniques for Windows computers...
17. Remote Desktop Services Windows Server 2016
Learn RDS Sessions and Application on Windows Server 2016 and Get Everything You Need To Start Deploying RDS...
18. Linux Technical Interview Questions and Answers
Linux 15+ hours of practical technical interview questions, answers and explanations to Ace the Linux job interview 2020...
19. Active Directory & Group Policy Administration for IT Techs
Active Directory & Group Policy Administration Basics for Helpdesk and Desktop / IT Support Technicians...
20. Active Directory on Windows Server
Learn how to deploy and manage all aspects of Active Directory, Group Policy, DNS and many more technologies...
Top 10 most affordable universities for technical support engineers
The most affordable schools for technical support engineers are California State University - Bakersfield, suny farmingdale, and california state university - long beach.
If the best universities for technical support engineers are out of your price range, check out these affordable schools. After factoring in in-state tuition and fees, the average cost of attendance, admissions rate, average net price, and mean earnings after six years, we found that these are the most affordable schools for technical support engineers.
1. California State University - Bakersfield
Bakersfield, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$7,309
Cost of attendance
16,714
2. SUNY Farmingdale
Farmingdale, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$8,306
Cost of attendance
16,091
3. California State University - Long Beach
Long Beach, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$6,798
Cost of attendance
18,306
4. California State University - Los Angeles
Los Angeles, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$6,749
Cost of attendance
14,823
5. New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology
Socorro, NM • Private
In-state tuition
$7,770
Cost of attendance
21,244
6. University of Puerto Rico - Mayaguez
Mayaguez, PR • Private
In-state tuition
$4,094
Cost of attendance
14,302
7. Brigham Young University
Provo, UT • Private
In-state tuition
$5,620
Cost of attendance
18,136
8. California State University - Fullerton
Fullerton, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$6,886
Cost of attendance
17,645
9. Brooklyn College of the City University of New York
Brooklyn, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$7,240
Cost of attendance
13,991
10. City College of New York of the City University of New York, The
New York, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$7,140
Cost of attendance
14,430
Top 10 hardest universities to get into for technical support engineers
The hardest universities for technical support engineers to get into are Stanford University, Northwestern University, and University of Pennsylvania.
Some great schools for technical support engineers are hard to get into, but they also set your career up for greater success. The list below shows the most challenging universities to get into for technical support engineers based on an institution's admissions rates, average SAT scores accepted, median ACT scores accepted, and mean earnings of students six years after admission.
1. Stanford University
Stanford, CA • Private
Admissions rate
4%
SAT average
1,497
2. Northwestern University
Evanston, IL • Private
Admissions rate
8%
SAT average
1,508
3. University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA • Private
Admissions rate
8%
SAT average
1,492
4. Vanderbilt University
Nashville, TN • Private
Admissions rate
10%
SAT average
1,514
5. University of Southern California
Los Angeles, CA • Private
Admissions rate
13%
SAT average
1,445
6. Harvard University
Cambridge, MA • Private
Admissions rate
5%
SAT average
1,520
7. New York University
New York, NY • Private
Admissions rate
20%
SAT average
1,419
8. Boston University
Boston, MA • Private
Admissions rate
22%
SAT average
1,420
9. Duke University
Durham, NC • Private
Admissions rate
9%
SAT average
1,516
10. Carnegie Mellon University
Pittsburgh, PA • Private
Admissions rate
17%
SAT average
1,507
Top 10 easy-to-apply-to universities for technical support engineers
The easiest schools for technical support engineers to get into are Oklahoma Wesleyan University, barry university, and oregon institute of technology.
Some schools are much easier to get into. If you want to start your career as a technical support engineer without much hassle, check out the list of schools where you will be accepted in no time. We compiled admissions rates, average SAT scores, average ACT scores, and average salary of students six years after graduation to uncover which were the easiest schools to get into for technical support engineers.
1. Oklahoma Wesleyan University
Bartlesville, OK • Private
Admissions rate
68%
SAT average
964
2. Barry University
Miami, FL • Private
Admissions rate
91%
SAT average
1,006
3. Oregon Institute of Technology
Klamath Falls, OR • Private
Admissions rate
96%
SAT average
1,139
4. Nyack College
New York, NY • Private
Admissions rate
98%
SAT average
999
5. Capitol Technology University
Laurel, MD • Private
Admissions rate
69%
SAT average
1,070
6. La Roche College
Pittsburgh, PA • Private
Admissions rate
99%
SAT average
1,008
7. Texas A&M University - Kingsville
Kingsville, TX • Private
Admissions rate
89%
SAT average
1,035
8. Sonoma State University
Rohnert Park, CA • Private
Admissions rate
90%
SAT average
1,072
9. LIM College
New York, NY • Private
Admissions rate
83%
SAT average
1,061
10. Notre Dame College
Cleveland, OH • Private
Admissions rate
90%
SAT average
994
Average technical support engineer salary by education level
| Technical support engineer education level | Technical support engineer salary |
|---|---|
| Master's Degree | $103,860 |
| High School Diploma or Less | $79,992 |
| Bachelor's Degree | $89,741 |
| Doctorate Degree | $98,950 |
| Some College/ Associate Degree | $81,817 |
Technical support engineer education FAQs
Have more questions? See all answers to common computer and mathematical questions.
Search for technical support engineer jobs
Updated January 8, 2025
Updated January 8, 2025